I don’t know if many people in the US read this (okay, I don’t know if many people read this, period) but if so I don’t know if you’ll have heard the name Shannon Matthews which may or may not have been kicking about on the journo grapevine. To cut a long story short Shannon Matthews went missing the other week, and as missing kids cases go, a huge search and appeal was launched to find her… as was the case when Madelaine McCann disappeared a few months ago (a case which has yet to be concluded.) Maybe it was harsh of me at the time, but I did say that I didn’t think it was particularly strange that she disappeared as apparently she’d mentioned to her friends that she wanted to run away, and in my best efforts to judge books by covers I decided that the parents didn’t look particularly bothered. Yeah, they looked upset, but I didn’t get that “I’ve just lost my kid” message. Turns out their daughter was found at a family member’s house after the police stormed the property. Facts are quite thinly laid here, but the mother and step-father have both been arrested, currently being held in custody, for perverting the course of justice. The step-father has also had charged brought against him for obtaining indecent images of children… Oh yeah, and he tried to kill himself a few days later. On top of this half of the family have been charged for benefit fraud.

Apparently, the other week an episode of Shameless was aired whereby the family decided to get some cash by pretending that their child had gone missing, and it’s alleged that this has been copied. I’ve also heard that they allegedly asked the McCann’s for money they had received from fundraising, etc. You may also have noticed my customer service head coming into play covering myself so I don’t get my ass sued off

I don’t like being all serious, but I find all this fucking apalling. The family live in a struggling area about 15 mins drive from here. Yeah, I appreciate that people can do desperate things for money, but wasting the time of hundreds of people who’re helping you out of good faith, spending tax-payers’ cash on searches that don’t need to be performed when the police could be put to better causes (I don’t think I need to elaborate there!) is just horrendous.

Another estate, this time in Bradford, was on the front page of the local rag yesterday down to an organised fist-fight appearing on Youtube. It turns out that the subject was a friend of a friend of a friend (or whatever) and while it seems like I’m being biased I don’t blame these guys. The estate they’re from doesn’t have any suitable sports facilities. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s idiocy, but give the kids something to do! At least here we have a sports centre run by the council and plenty of activities, but they have a (normally closed) recreation centre. What amuses me is that the MP for Bradford South is no other than Gerry Sutcliffe, Parliament’s Sports Minister. You’d think that if anything he’d start at home. And I deplore his ridiculous comments about meeting with Youtube to ensure that they do not promote such videos again. Erm… I think he’ll probably find that it was deleted pretty sharpish.

On a brighter note I’m interviewing tomorrow to replace my colleague who’s leaving shortly. I think I’m actually interviewing for Customer Service stroke Sales, since my manager said we’ll employ him as a salesperson if I don’t want to give him the position. I feel all managery. I’ve never interviewed before, and still need to write down the interview questions as I’m not 100% sure what I’m going to be asking. It’s all fun.